March 2008 | Los Angeles Chapter Bulletin

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CHAPTER NEWS

A New Way

As we approach a new CalCPA membership year, please be aware of the following procedural changes that will take effect in the upcoming months:

The following will become effective May 1, 2008
Los Angeles Chapter technical committees and discussion groups will no longer keep petty cash accounts. Therefore, participants paying with cash must have the exact amount. No change will be available. To process CPE credits efficiently and timely, the preferred registration payment options include:
1.) Online
2.) Check
3.) Credit Card
4.) Cash (Exact payment required. No change will be available.)

To reduce costs the Los Angeles Chapter will no longer mail meeting notices. The events will be promoted on the website, www.calcpa.org/la, and via electronic notifications.

The following will become effective June 1, 2008
We value your membership and ensure uniformity among all technical committees and discussion groups. A nonmember rate will now be incorporated in all Los Angeles Chapter events.

We appreciate your time and commitment to CalCPA, the Los Angeles Chapter and the CPA profession.
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CHAPTER EVENTS

Chapter Board Meeting

Join us as we discuss issues relating to our chapter and CalCPA.
Date: Thursday, May 8
Time: 8-10 a.m.
Location: UCLA Faculty Center; Westwood
Info: Chapter program associate Sandy Benitez

YEP Committee’s Third Annual Bowling Night

Imagine the bright lights and cool ambience that Universal CityWalk provides, combined with a great night of bowling! That’s what you’ll experience at the next YEP event Jillian’s. This is a perfect opportunity to get involved and socialize with other young professionals.
   You don’t want to miss out on this great night of fun! Sign up now!
Date: Friday, April 18
Location: Jillian’s CityWalk; 1000 Universal Studios Blvd.; Universal City
Cost: Free/members; $25/nonmembers (includes appetizers and bowling)
RSVP: Online
Info: Chapter program associate Sandy Benitez
Note: Self-parking: $10
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SAVE THE DATES

Installation Program

Date: Friday, June 6
Location: Dodger Stadium

Chapter Mixer

Date: Thursday, July 17
Location: Minx Restaurant; Glendale

Hollywood Bowl Night with Donna Summer

Date: Friday, Aug. 22
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Giving Back

By Vee Cristobal, CPA

I read an interesting statistic in February: Of the 50 percent of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions, roughly 15 percent keep them past January. I have to admit I’ve been tempted to push back one of mine—to call a high school teacher and offer to teach a high school financial planning program.
   I will postpone it until May, I tell myself, rationalizing that tax season is just too busy to absorb another 60-minute obligation, plus travel time. As tax practitioners, we know that 60 minutes seems like an eternity, especially considering how client calls often last six times longer than normal, and not to mention the hundreds and hundreds of returns we have to review.
   But May might be too late, given that most school years end in June. To keep myself from sloughing my duties, I make a point to review my resolutions and affirm my promise to myself and to my community. I also promised Bill Spaniel, CalCPA’s public relations manager, that I would volunteer March 27 for one of the financial literacy opportunities in my community.
   Still, I reason with myself, is this my time to give back, or can it wait until after tax season? Sure, I guess it could, but more importantly, I ask myself this: Can I miss an opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise to help low-income families file and complete their tax returns? Can I miss an opportunity to give time to share my knowledge, especially to high school students, on making college a reality and saving and investing in their futures?
   Absolutely not.
   During this time of year, I am committed to making sure chapter officers and directors will commit themselves to promoting financial literacy in their communities and in classrooms. As CPAs, we have many opportunities to give back to our communities, one of which is by helping disadvantaged communities prepare their taxes. Consider all those horror stories about home foreclosures in California. You likely have friends, clients or family members affected, some of whom might be forced out of their homes when their adjustable rate mortgages mature. It is never too late to educate them and teach them how to improve their futures. Imagine the world of difference you could make if you stopped just one family from making a mistake that could cost them their home!
   With this in mind, I encourage you to attend the 2008 California Summit on Financial Literacy, Wednesday, April 23 in Sacramento. Not only will it feel good learning how to give back, but you will also earn five hours of CPE for free. This is a joint effort between CalCPA, the California Jump$tart Coalition and CalCPA Institute. This great event will bring together businesses, community groups, nonprofits, financial professionals and educators.
   By attending, you will:

• Make a difference in empowering California communities to fight financial literacy
• Make your communities more powerful, effective and efficient
• Promote model programs and partnerships with high schools, churches and nonprofit organization that promote financial literacy in your community
• Connect people, organizations and communities to further personal finance education through sharing of resources

CalCPA has forged relationships with many organizations committed to helping Californians gain financial literacy, such as the California Association of Work Experience Educators, Beta Alpha Psi, California Teachers Association, Association of California School Administrators, National Endowment for Financial Education, Junior Achievement, Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship and so many more. I’m thrilled to say that the list of organizations committed to helping Californians attain financial literacy is too long to print!
   Just imagine the impact our contribution can make if we, members of CalCPA's largest chapter, joined hands to teach and impart the importance of financial literacy in our community. Come join your fellow members in promoting California financial literacy!
   I will see you in Sacramento April 23. For more details on participating, call me, Rob Seltzer, the CalCPA chair for financial literacy, or Sandy Benitez in the Glendale office. I’m counting on you, and so are Californians statewide!
   Until then, remember Mission 10,000. We have 9,091 members. If only 10 percent of us vowed to encourage one young or up-and-coming CPA to join our group, we could surpass our goal. In fact, why stop at 10,000 when 11,000 is just around the corner?
   Wishing you all a very lovely spring. Please e-mail me your comments and suggestions.
—Vee Cristobal, CPA
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CHAPTER NEWS

In Memoriam: Nella Ebert

After suffering a stroke, Nella Helen Pizzinat Ebert died peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 10, with her family by her side.
   Born in Glendale, Nella lived a full and happy life. She attended Los Angeles public schools, graduating from John Marshall High School in 1943. Nella studied accounting at University of Southern California and became a CPA in 1951. She was the first woman CPA employed by the Los Angeles offices of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell, now known as KPMG. In 1955, she married the love of her life, Robert Arthur (Bob) Ebert. They lived in San Marino for almost 50 years.
   Nella raised her three children while running her own accounting practice. She also spent many hours in the kitchen preparing wonderful Italian meals. After her children were grown, she and Bob enjoyed traveling and dancing with the Alaroma group.
   Nella, who was featured on the December 2007 cover of California CPA magazine, and her two children, Gina Levy and James, have provided more than 100 years of service to the CPA profession. Nella served on CalCPA’s board from 1991–93. She also served on various committees within the Los Angeles Chapter and the Pasadena discussion group.
   Nella is survived by her husband, her brother, three children and seven grandchildren.

New Members

On behalf of the Los Angeles Chapter’s officers, directors and members, we extend our warmest of welcomes to our new members: Teresa Boceta, Douglas Bowers, Vishal Gupta... [see all new members]

Volunteers Provide Tax Service

The chapter’s Taxation Committee needs volunteers for its free income tax service, which consists of preparing 2007 individual tax returns for low-income individuals making less then $32,000. And remember, we now have computers. If you’re interested, please choose a date and contact Lanyce Mills at (562) 423-8777.

Dates: Tuesday nights: March 4 and 11
Time: 7–9 p.m.
Location: Eastmont Community Center; 701 S. Hoefner Ave.; Los Angeles

Audit Hours

If you or your firm can provide audit hour experience, please contact program associate Sandy Benitez with your contact information.

Mentor Accounting Students

A dozen chapter members, along with student members from Loyola Marymount University and Cal State Los Angeles, have started the chapter’s Mentoring Program. If you are interested in volunteering as a mentor, please contact program associate Sandy Benitez.
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CalCPA NEWS

We Value Your Membership—Renew Today

Renew your 2008-09 CalCPA membership and you will be entered into a drawing for a FREE VP membership good through April 2009 courtesy of the California CPA Education Foundation. Learn more.
   Renew Today!

Register Online

Register and pay for CalCPA events 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit CalCPA.org’s Master Calendar to search for CPE and other events by chapter or key word. Explore the possibilities.
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RESOURCES:

CPE Calendars:
Area Discussion Group
Technical Committee Calendars

Los Angeles Chapter Leadership